Safe Routes To School to celebrate International Walk & Bike To School Day on October 3. Safe Routes to Schools invites Fairmont area school families to walk or bicycle to school with your children on October 3, 2012 in celebration of International Walk & Bike To School Day. In the US, International Walk to School Day is expected to include 5,000 schools from all 50 states. Walkers from the US will join children and adults in 40 countries around the world. Safe Routes to School is a comprehensive strategy to make walking and bicycling to school safe and accessible to children. Walking and bicycling to school is a great way for the whole family to get physical activity. Providing more opportunities for physical activity is critical if we are to reverse the alarming trend of rising childhood obesity rates. Research also shows that walking and biking to school helps improve academic achievement. After walking or biking, children arrive to school more focused and ready to learn. For more information, contact Joe Burns or Community Education and Recreation.